I've just seen an old post on here that states that you should freeze raw bones before giving them to your dog.  I have always given them straight from the fridge and am now concerned that I have been doing it wrong .  What are peoples opinions on this?

Also once they are frozen, I assume I have to defrost them before giving them to the dog . How long can I keep them in the freezer (I usually throw out uneaten bones after two days in the fridge).

Hi Olivetor,

I freeze my RMB's meats and offal,I defrost them in the fridge,and give them straight from the fridge.
   If raw meats are kept within the correct temperatures Bacterium dont or rather cant reproduce. which means freezing,or chilled (refridgerator) or cooked to correct temperatures.
   ambient temperatures or in food hygiene 'The Danger Zone, or growth zone' is between 5 degrees and 68degrees anything above or below that will stop bacterium multiplying.
   Regarding Freezing killing Bacteria here's a good article look at comments made by Professor Geoff Archer;
Dept of Food science at leeds University. :)
<a class='url' href='http://lists.foodsafetyweb.info/SCRIPTS/WA-FOODSWS.EXE?A2=ind9711&amp;L=foodsafe&amp;P=6256'>Does freezing kill bacteria?</a>

HTH :D
sorry edited to say: I freeze for storage reasons...not because I think I have to before feeding raw. some will be in the fridge (held for no longer than 2-3 days..I use zip,lock bags and write on the white strip the date!) I date everything so i can rotate it! when restocking..but have now got to the stage where I can perfect my order to last 1-2 weeks. sometimes get a bargain from the butcher or Rabbits from an old boy in the village so do sometimes hold thing in the deep freeze for 3-4 weeks)

I do pretty much the same as HG....and then wonder why I bother to be so careful when they bury them in the garden almost immediately and dig them up again (sometimes weeks later ) when they've had a chance to mature :rolleyes:

very true!! :D
Festering pheasant from the wood behind our house is a particular favourite of ours!! :rolleyes:

lol, if only Olive would bury them, she leaves them on show in the front garden for all to see (and smell)- no wonder the only visitors I get now are the local strays .

Thanks HG, my mind is at rest. I go to the butchers every second day to make sure that the bones are fresh, from now on I'll be getting them in bulk and freezing most of them :). I put more thought into Olive's food than I do into my own :rolleyes:

You do not HAVE to freeze raw bones before giving them to your dog, although the amount I have the place would smell pretty rancid if I did not freeze some! :D

I prefer to give mine at room temperature but I do feed mine frozen food especially when it is hot, meaty ice lollies! :D

I am not sure technically how long you can keep them in the freezer but let us say I never date mine............. :)

Thanks tohme :)

lol, meaty ice lollies - Olive would be in paradise, will definately have to try that one.